Alright, my fellow papists, here’s the deal: Pope Francis wrote the following in his groundbreaking new encyclical, Laudato Si’: “We need to develop a new synthesis capable of overcoming the false arguments of recent centuries. Christianity, in fidelity to its own identity and the rich deposit of truth which it has received from Jesus Christ, [Read More…]

Reading and loving What If? Question: Given that vampires can be killed only by Catholic sacramentals and sacraments (nobody ever kills vampires with Baptist hymnals or Nebraska Missionary Alliance communion crackers) *and* by sunlight, I need to know: Can a full spectrum flashlight with sun-equivalent candle power kill a vampire if it has been properly [Read More…]

Bill Doino, Jr. writes: I am pleased to announce that my lengthy review of Mark Riebling’s groundbreaking book, Church of Spies: The Pope’s Secret War Against Hitler (Basic Books, published September 29th) has just appeared in the new issue (October 19th) of National Review. It is not fully online yet–just the opening is-as it’s still [Read More…]

…and she has written a lulu of a spiritual autobiography that you need to read. It’s called The Kiss of Jesus and tells the surprisingly gritty story of somebody who has been through the wringer and come through it with the help of God. Here’s a quick description from Amazon: Growing up in a Polish-American [Read More…]

…I thought some folks might be interested in this blurb from University of Notre Dame Press: Patrick Samway, S.J., has just published a book with us at the University of Notre Dame Press. Fr. Samway edited and annotated the correspondence between Thomas Merton and Robert Giroux, his long-time editor. Reading their correspondence gives one a [Read More…]

…here. It is curious to me how much Protestant Fundamentalism and Reactionary Catholicism have in common. Both are, in large measure, attempts to re-invent the Church and do it right without all the alleged heresy of a Magisterium that *used* be guided by the Holy Spirit (back before the end of the apostolic age/the Second [Read More…]

Sez he: So I am a Presbyterian, but a bad one, and I have been reading the Orthodox Study Bible, and have taken the day to study Judith (I do weird things like this every now and then). In reading about it, and doing some homework, I stumbled upon one of your articles and thought it [Read More…]

…by Brad Birzer over at The Imaginative Conservative. The Silmarillion is well worth reading. For those wondering about its relationship to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this graphic explains it all for you: Suffice it to say that all the action of the latter books occurs on the last page and a [Read More…]

Eleven cardinals release a book in advance of the synod on the family. It’s a reply to the so-called “shadow council’s” behind the scenes politickin’ and is a follow up to Remaining in the Truth of Christ. Bill Doino has a review of Remaining here. The new book will be out September 25 from Ignatius. [Read more…]

Saint Peter: Flawed, Forgiven, and Faithful (Walking with Peter from Galilee to Rome). Here are a few endorsements the book has received: James Martin, SJ, editor at large at America Media, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage “A marvelous book, which seamlessly combines biblical scholarship, travel narrative, historical research and spiritual reflections, to help us more [Read More…]